Logitech M510 an M325 Wireless Mice

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A great wireless mouse doesn't have to cost a fortune. The Logitech M510 and M325 wireless mice offer all the features you need at budget friendly prices. Both sit comfortably in the hand with quick and precise response to user commands. The Unifying USB receivers simplify switching the mice between devices and will recognize up to 6 devices using a single receiver. Once the software is setup to recognize each mouse or other compatible device, it will be automatically detected even if you haven't used it for months.

Logitech

Logitech Wireless Mouse M510

The M510 is a sleek and contoured ergonomic design with rubber side grips for all day comfort. It's large enough to accommodate large and small hands without finger cramps from extended use. The scroll wheel is well placed and Web navigation is smooth and effortless. Forward and Back buttons are positioned on the left side of the mouse in easy reach of your thumb for easy Web page switching. A simple power switch on the bottom of the mouse will conserve your battery when not in use but the extended battery life of up to 2 years will make those frequent battery replacements a thing of the past.

In the Box

M510 Mouse

Logitech Unifying receiver

2 AA batteries (pre-installed)

User documentation: Printed Quick Start Guide with lots of pictures

A set of 2 AA batteries come pre-installed in the M510. Just remove the paper tab to activate the batteries and plug in the USB receiver. This Unifying receiver will allow you to connect up to 6 Unifying compatible devices (mice, keyboard, Number pad) using the same receiver for all instead of using up multiple USB ports for additional receivers for each device. The Unifying software is required to make this happen but it's a small download from the Logitech web site. Downloads are available from the Logitech Support page.

You will also need to download Logitech's SetPoint Software which allows you to customize the functions assigned to mouse buttons, F-keys and hot-keys on your compatible keyboard, adjust tracking speed of your mouse and customize other device-specific settings to your taste. Assign the following tasks to the buttons of your own choosing:

Application Switcher

Middle Button

One-ouch Search

Zoom (Magnify)

AutoScroll

Keystroke Assignment

Other.

You can also have the SetPoint application alert you to the battery status of the attached devices and tell you whether the Caps Lock and Num Lock keys are activated.

The Logitech M510 is large enough for a man's hand but not too large for me to comfortably reach all the buttons. Scrolling documents and Web pages is smooth and effortless. Regardless of whether you use a mousepad, a polished or wood-grained desktop, or the arm of your favorite recliner, the mouse moves smoothly with quick and accurate responses. The buttons click sharply with no mushy feel that you find with some mice. The M510 is sure to please even the most demanding mouse users. The Unifying receiver is great feature and a real plus particularly for USB port limited notebooks.

The Logitech's online store shows the list price for the M510 as $39.99 with free shipping. You can also find it on Amazon in Black for only $24.99 with free shipping on orders over $35. An Amazon Marketplace seller is also selling the M510 in Navy blue for $29.48.

Logitech M325 Wireless Mouse

The M325 is smaller and shorter than the M510 but similar in shape and performance. Instead of the 2 batteries required for most wireless mice, the M25 needs only 1. I expected that performance might suffer with only 1 battery but that's not the case. This little mouse has all the energy it needs to keep up with you. Cursor movement is quick and precise with no dropouts or lag time. Without looking in the battery compartment, you would never know it only had one battery. This is low energy consumption at its best.

The battery compartment on the underside of the mouse is smaller because it only needs to accommodate a single battery but it also has space to store the small Unifying receiver in its own little slot. There is also the expected on/off switch on the bottom of the mouse plus a Smart Sleep Mode to help conserve battery life. A light indicator shows the status of the battery but you can also check the power level within the SetPoint software application.

Soft comfort grips cover each side of the mouse are contoured and comfortable for use with either hand. The tiny Unifying receiver slides into a USB port and you can just leave it there. It won't get in the way even when you stowe your laptop in a bag or briefcase. As with the M510, you will need to download the SetPoint Software and the Unifying Software to take advantage of customizing the mouse functions to your own taste. Downloads are available from the Logitech Support page.

I think choosing a mouse is a bit like choosing a magic wand in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. Just as the wand chooses its wizard, the mouse that fits you best might not be the one you expect. That's what happened with the M325. I expected the Genius Ergo 8800 Mouse, the Logitech Anywhere Mouse MX or the M510, which all have more buttons and features would come out on top. Instead the M325 had the feel and performance that I was searching for to replace my ancient Genius PS/2 mouse. It doesn't matter that it lacks the Forward and Back buttons that I enjoyed on the other mice. It's the perfect fit more my hand and small enough to comfortably fit on the lap desk beside my notebook. This is a great little mouse and as it turned out, my favorite of all the wireless mice I've tested. You will absolutely love the Unifying feature of these mice.

The Logitech M325 Wireless Mouse is available in a wide variety of solid colors and fun patterns to add some fun to your computing. You can purchase the M325 directly from the Logitech online store for the list price of $29.99 with free shipping. It's also available on Amazon at prices ranging from $10 to $20 depending on the color you select and the Marketplace seller who sells it. I found my Logitech M325 in red on Ebay, New for about $12 a few months back. There always seems to be a good selection there from different sellers but the prices can vary widely from very low to twice the list price.

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Bonnie is a lifelong resident of Maryland. She currently lives in the beautiful town of Havre de Grace with her husband of 30 years and their three cats. She enjoys technology, computers and computer games and is the leader of the local computer club. She began writing computer software and hardware reviews for publication in 1992. Her first novel, The Portal to Forever,\ was published in 2009. Contact Bonnie at examinerbdr@comcast.net.